ValJean

Thanks so much for your post Jen, and congratulations on your wonderful success!

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations on your success! Happy Bandiversary! Val

Thanks--and good luck with your surgery!!

Hi Eileen--sorry for not replying sooner, I just now saw your post. Not sure how I missed it earlier. First off, congratulations on your success so far! You're doing great! I am definitely at my sweet spot. I had 4 fills, then was too tight, had to get completely unfilled, and have now built back up and am right where I need to be. Having proper restriction has really been the key. In regards to the binge eating--this is something I have struggled with all of my life. I know everyone is different, and what works for some might not work for others, but I found a lot of relief, support, and guidance by attending Overeaters Anonymous meetings. I started going before I was banded, and it helped me tremendously. Something to consider. Feel free to send me a private message anytime if you want to chat. And keep up the great work!! Val

Congratulations!!

To chime in on bacon...there are some really excellent choices for turkey bacon available. Way less fat, low in calories, good protein--and while the texture is a bit different than regular bacon, it is still very good and I have an easier time eating/digesting it.

I'm 9 days shy of my 10-month bandiversary, and at my weekly weigh-in this morning, the scale said 190. That's 101 pounds gone--so excited! This has been such an amazing journey, and I am grateful to everyone in my life, including all the wonderful people on this forum, for so much support and encouragement along the way. I couldn't have made it this far without you! Val

YES! I'll yawn, and sometimes get a runny nose or hiccups. But the yawning happens pretty much every time I eat. Guess it's good to have a clear signal that I'm full...but kind of embarrassing to break out into yawning when I'm eating with someone. I have to assure them I'm not bored with what they're saying!

Hi sfchick, Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone--I went through a period of depression, almost exactly like this, a month out of surgery. Not everyone experiences it of course, but I think it is pretty natural. There could be lots of reasons--for me, I think it was almost like a "hangover" period. There was so much excitement and build up and anticipation leading up to the surgery, then right after I felt so motivated and wanted to do it all, right out of the gate. But once the newness of the band started to wear off, I went into a sort of mourning for my "old self" and my "old life." It was weird and unsettling. BUT--it didn't last, thankfully. I think the main thing I had to do for myself was take things one day at a time. I decided that I needed to start every day fresh, and wake up with the attitude that I was going to do the best things for my body TODAY. Not worry about tomorrow or next week or next year--or yesterday! Just today. That was all that mattered. I have to say too that I relied heavily on the support of my amazing boyfriend, who has been right there with me every step of the way, encouraging and believing in me when I maybe didn't believe in myself as much as I should have. Do you have a support system at home? Someone to talk to about how you're feeling? I think just being able to say it out loud helps so much! Also, is there someone you can walk with, workout with? Please feel free to send me a private message anytime if you need someone to talk to. You can get through this--we are all here to help! Best, Val

I'm almost 9 months out, down 93 lbs (about 50 more to go), and I definitely have struggled with feeling "bigger" than I am--or rather, not fully accepting or believing how much "smaller" I've become! My ultra-supportive, wonderful boyfriend has nicknamed me "Tinier Val" which helps to remind me I finally managed to gain the courage to throw out all my size 20+ clothes, but when I go shopping I still grab XL-XXL or 18/20s and am amazed when they are hanging (or falling) off. Again, I have a ways to go to goal...I'm interested to see how/when/if my perceptions change once I'm there! Val

I'm one week shy of my 9-month bandiversary, and this morning the scale dropped below 200! YAY!! Haven't been here in years and it feels amazing! Thanks to everyone here for all your posts--reading this site has motivated me every single day since the very beginning when I was just thinking about getting banded. This surgery has changed my life, and I am so grateful! Val

Congrats on your success, and THANK YOU for all your posts and pictures along the way--your journey has been such an inspiration and motivation to my own journey and I am grateful to you for sharing your experiences and insights with us all! Val

You're going to do great Tina! Just making a donation now. It's such an amazing organization--I just did the Chicago Komen 5k last weekend and it was so inspiring! I'll be walking with you in spirit! Val

I flew two weeks ago, ate about an hour before my flight, and felt fine until we started our initial descent. From then until we landed, I had terrible pain/pressure all around my midsection, like I was stuck, but it also felt like someone was squeezing my ribcage in a vice! I was panting and squirming because the pain was so intense, and my boyfriend was freaking out a bit! I was afraid I would have to crawl off the plane and lay down in the airport once we landed, but as soon as we touched down--poof!--it stopped and I felt fine. It was so weird. Not sure if it was the change in barometric pressure due to altitude or what, but when we came home a week later I made sure not to eat any Breakfast before the return flight which was early morning. I had no problems on that flight. Haven't had a chance to discuss it with my doctor but just wanted to share my experience. Val

That's so awesome Tina! I will definitely visit your page and make a donation on Thurs (pay day). Will you send me a note to remind me? Hope all else is well with you! Val

So glad I saw this thread! I've been hovering at 205-210 for 2 months and it has been driving me crazy! A month ago I had to have a complete unfill (was too tight and my doc's policy is to unfill all the way and build back up to the sweet spot), then a small fill two weeks ago--heading in today for another fill. Glad I haven't gained but geez, I've been exercising like crazy and really digging deep into my willpower with eating since I have little restriction, and still that scale won't budge. This may not be the reason, of course, but it definitely gives me some peace of mind. Thanks ladies! Val

After trying countless sports bras I've learned that, as someone with a lot to handle up top, the best work out bra for me is one that has separate cups, rather than the "uni-boob" style sports bra. I bought a Freya Active Underwire about three months ago and I LOVE IT. Honestly, it is amazing--I am actually able to go running now and not even worry about bounce at all. Now, I got mine during a bra sale at Nordstrom, so I got a good deal--otherwise I think it's kind of pricey ($60-$80 range, I think). But it WORKS. Worth the investment in the long run for sure! Freya Active Underwired Sports Bra from FreyaActive Val

I love it! It can be dry because it's so lean, as Cathy said, so keep that in mind. It's a great alternative to beef in chili.

I totally love the biking--it's a great combination of working out and transportation, since I travel back and forth to work (luckily my building has a fitness center with showers so I can get ready there!). Plus I find that it just clears my head in the morning and is a great start to my day, and a great stress reliever at the end of the day. I sometimes forget to think of it as a workout actually. And I absolutely love yoga--recently I've joined a bikram yoga studio; that is the 90 minute yoga class in a very hot room (100+ degrees). It is crazy but AMAZING! The first couple of classes I thought I'd die, but now I am completely addicted. I sweat like a maniac. And I did some research online and every site I looked at estimated that, for someone at my weight (210), I am burning near 1200 calories in a class! I'm still hesitant to count that number against my daily calorie balance, for fear that the estimate is way too high--but I will say reading that motivated me to go back after those first couple classes when I thought there was no way I'd survive it!

I ride on city streets, so with traffic lights it takes me about 40 minutes.

I ride my bike back and forth to work at least 3 days a week (8 miles each way), do bikram (hot!) yoga 3 days a week, and take a boot camp class or run 2-3 days a week. I'm one of those all or nothing people--glad to be on the "all" setting these days!

Just ran my first 5k and didn't come in last place! The race organizers posted pictures and it's amazing--I actually look like a "real" runner :w00t: It even took me a second to pick myself out in the crowd, and that has never been the case with a photo before!

Prior to being banded, I was the kind of person who always wanted to work out on my own--I think I was more afraid of being compared to other people than preferring to "do my own thing." Since being banded, I have been doing a lot of classes, and I absolutely love it! I find that I get much better results when I've got an instructor than I do when I'm on my own. For instance, if I'm alone I get through about 3 pushups before I "can't" do anymore. In my class, I can do 10-15--it hurts like heck, but I'm able to really push myself. I realize that you're not that far out from surgery and probably need to start slow, but once you build up your routine I'd highly recommend checking out what classes your gym has to offer. Congrats and good luck!

Congrats Jerry! Great work!